Padma Devi

Padma Devi (1917–1983) was a popular Indian Bengali Hindi/Hindustani Film Actress and playback singer of Indian cinema, in the silent era and the early talkies. Starting her career with the main role in Sea Goddess (1931), directed by Dhirubhai Desai and produced by Saroj Film Company, Padma went on to act in over one hundred films in her career.[1]

Padma Devi
শ্রীমতি পদ্মা দেবী
Padma Devi in the Film Kisan Kanya (1937)
Born
Nilima

1917
Died1 February 1983(1983-02-01) (aged 65–66)
NationalityIndian
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer (in some of her early films)
Years active1931–1979
Known forBollywood films and music
Notable work

Early years

Padma Devi was born on 1917 in Bengal, British India. Her ancestral home was Madaripur. Her real name was Nilima.[1]

Career

Padma Devi was one of the earliest action heroines of the Indian Cinema. She started her career with Sea Goddess, filmed in 1931, and was often cast with "dare-devil" Boman Shroff in a stream of successful stunt films such as The Amazon, directed and produced by JBH Wadia, released in 1933.

In his unpublished autobiography, Jamshed Boman Homi Wadia wrote:

“I made my last silent thriller 'The Amazon' or 'Dilruba Daku' [w]ith Padma in the stellar role. The [s]tory was the reverse of 'Thunderbolt', with Padma as the masked woman and saviour of the people. Of course, I had to avail of a duplicate in female garb to enact her stunts. Even so, Padma had become an adept in fight sequences and her youth and beauty added glamour to the film. It was the box office success of 'The Amazon' which had induced me to sign Fearless Nadia in my talkies to come, with whom I was to make that super-stunt film 'Hunterwali' and take the Indian film world by storm. (Wadia 1978: ch. 43).”[2]

Kisan Kanya starring Padma Devi is the first indigenously made color movie which was released in 1937. Her work was appreciated in movies like Chalti Duniya, Hindustan Hamara, Jini Ram Tini Krishno Ek-i Dehe Ramkrishna, Sree Sree Ramkrishna Kathamrita, Maa Bhabani Maa Amar and many more.

She has also sung in several films; Sati Mahananda (1933), Maharani (1934), Bahen Ka Prem (1935), Sangdil Samaj (1936), Kisan Kanya (1937) and Zamana (1938) are notable among them. Parallel to her Bollywood career, Padma has also worked in Bengali and Kannada language cinema.

Filmography

Padma Devi acted in over one hundred films in her career. A partial list:[3][4]

Year Film Cast Director Studio/Producer
1931 Sea Goddess Padma Devi, Zebunissa, Chandra Rao Kadam, Pawar, Ata Mohammed Dhirubhai Desai Saroj Film Company
1932 Hind Kesari Padma, Sultan Alam, Inamdar Homi Master Jayant Pictures
1932 Vanersena Padma, Vasantrao Pahelwan, Inamdar Homi Master Jayant Pictures
1932 Parwana Padma, Nure Watan, Kamla Kumari, Ram Kunwar, Rahim, Allavally, Shubi, A. Isaq, Agha, Kesari Singh H. E. Khateeb New Western India Film Company
1932 Toofan Mail Yashwant Dave, Padma, Narayan Pai, Adi Patel, Manchi Thuthi, JBH Wadia JBH Wadia Wadia Brothers
1932 Vanraj Kesari Navinchandra, Padma, Vasant Bhandari, Baburao Apte, Bhim, Bhagwandas, Lobo Harshadrai Mehta Mehta Luhar Productions
1933 Jagat Mohini Padma, Sultan Alam, Inamdar Homi Master Jayant Pictures
1933 Kurukshetra Balasaheb Yadav, Madhavrao Joshi, Padma, Nandrekar, Shlini, Sharda, Ansuya, Hansa Sardar Balasaheb Yadav Chhatrapati Cine
1933 Lal-E-Yaman Padma, Mohini, Boman Shroff, Firoze Dastur, Master Mohammed, Sayani Aatish, Jal Khambata JBH Wadia Wadia Movietone
1933 Prithviraj Sanyogita Padma Devi, Navinchandra, Rafiq Ghaznavi, Kishori, Altekar, Datar Narayanrao Sarpotdar Maharashtra Cine
1933 Sati Mahananda Padma Devi, Mubarak, Madhukar Gupte, Shirin Banu, Shantaram, Raja Pandit, Kamlavati Baburao Patel Gandharva Cinetone
1933 The Amazon Sayani, Padma, Allavally, Abul Haq, Boman Shroff, Manchi Toothy A. H. Essa Wadia Brothers
1933 Whirlwind Sayani, Boman Shroff, Padma, Adi Patel, Lovji Lavangia, Josi Mehta HBH Wadia Wadia Brothers
1934 Baag E Misar Padma Devi, S. Nazir, Boman Shroff, Jamna, Jal Khambatta, Firoze Dastur, Sayani Atish, Master Mohammed, Munchi Thuthi, Minoo Cooper JBH Wadia Wadia Movietone
1934 Bala Joban Mubarak, Padma Devi, Shrin Banu, M. Gupte, Badri Prasad, Gulab, Madhukar Gupte, Nandu Khote, Maruti Pahelwan, Raja Pandit, Ghulam Hussain, Master Kamlakar Baburao Patel Gandharva Cinetone
1934 Maharani Mubarak, Padma Devi, Shirin Banu, N. Chhapekar, Surve, Raja Pandit Baburao Patel Gandharva Cinetone
1935 Bahen Ka Prem Padma Devi, Rafiqe Ghaznavi, Zohrabai, Lakshmi Narayan, Sultana, Sadiq, Azurie J. K. Nanda Prosperity Films
1935 Pardesi Saiyan Mubarak, Padma Devi, Shirin, Azurie, Nandu Khote, Raja Pandit, Yasmin, Surve, Sophia, Bhaskar, Baburao Patel Gandharva Cinetone
1936 Chalak Chor Ishwarlal, Padma, Dixit, Ghory, Kesari, Charlie, Rewashankar, Khatoon, Ram Apte, Shanta, Raja Sandow Raja Sandow Ranjit Film Company
1936 Jwalamukhi Padma Devi, Ishwarlal, Khatoon, Shanta Devi, Ghory, Bhupatrai, Charlie D. N. Madhok Ranjit Film Company
1936 Passing Show Jayant, Padma Devi, Umakant, Shirin, Jahangir, Ismail, M. Luhar, Lallubhai Dwarka Khosla Prakash Pictures
1936 Sangdil Samaj Nazir, Sardar Akhtar, Padma Devi, Gope, Kamlakar, Omkar, Kamla Varekar, Sadiq Ali, Hari Shivdasani Ram Daryani Daryani Production
1937 Kisan Kanya Padma Devi, Ghulam Md., Sayed Ahmed, Zilloo, Nissar, Gani Moti Gidwani Ardeshir Irani of Imperial Pictures
1937 Do Auratein (Two Women) Padma Devi, Rose, Rafique Ghaznavi, Ghulam Mohammed, Baba Vyas, Sayed Ahmed, Laxmi Moti Gidwani Imperial Pictures
1938 Kis Liye Mohini, Ghulam Mohammed, Padma Devi, Ghulam Rasool, Rafiqe Ghaznavi, Asuji J. K. Mehta Imperial Films
1938 Sharif Daku Navinchandra, Padma Devi, Noor Jehan, Ghulam Hussain, F. M. Butt, Mukhtar, Baburao G. R. Sethi Jaybharat Movies
1938 Zamana Nazir, Padma Devi, Hansa Wadkar, Dar, Majeed, Vasant, Ameena, Bansi Karnataki, Gope, Gulab Ram Daryani Krishna Movies
1939 Actress Kyon Bani Usha Rani, Ashiq Hussain, Padma Devi, Rafiqe Ghaznavi, W. M. Khan, Abdul, Mukhtar G. R. Sethi Federal Film Exchange
1939 Kaun Kisi Ka Shobhana Samarth, Khursheed, Padma Devi, Nazir, Mubarak, Gope, K. N. Singh, Maruti Rao, Bibijan C. Luhar Hindustan
1940 Chalti Duniya Padma Devi, Rafiq Ghaznavi, Lakshmi, Ghulam Rasool, Leelavati, Gunjal, B. Marzban Mansukh Pictures
1940 Hindustan Hamara (Our India) Jamuna Barua, Nandrekar, Padma Devi, Hari Shivdasani Ram Daryani Film Corporation of India
1941 Vasantasena Lakshmi Bai, Subbaiah Naidu, R. Nagendra Rao, Padma Devi, Chandramma, Sarojamma, Sundaramma, Baby Vinoda, G. V. Krishnamoorthy Rao, G. R. Sandow Ramaier Shirur Meyappa Chettiar

R. Nagendra Rao

Subbaiah Naidu

1942 Bhakta Kabir Bharat Bhushan, Mehtab, Mazhar Khan, Ramesh Sinha, Padma Devi, Vanmali Das, Gyani, Rai Mohan Rameshwar Sharma Unity Productions
1942 Mamta Prince Dara, Pushpa Rani, Kalawati, Padma Devi, Akbar, N. Mohammed, Puttan I.A. Hafizji Indrapuri Studio
1942 Mahakavi Kalidas Karunu Bannerjee, Chhabi Biswas, Ulhas, Menaka Devi, Padma Devi Niren Lahiri Motimal Theaters
1944 Sesh Raksha Anil Chatterjee, Dipankar Dey, Sumitra Mukherjee, Santu Mukhopadhyay, Mahua Raychowdhury, Sabitri Chatterjee, Satya Banerjee, Bimal Deb, Santosh Dutta, Amit Dey, Debnath Chatterjee, Mihir Pal, Bharati Devi, Padma Devi, Aloka Ganguly, Indulekha Devi Shankar Bhattacharya Dilip Sarkar
1946 Khush Naseeb Rukmini Devi, Padma Devi, Vithaldas Panchotia, Indira, Gulab, Agha Vithaldas Panchotia Indrapuri Studio
1947 Pagdandi Akhtar, Om Prakash, Padma, Asha Posley, Durga Mota, Kalavat, Shyamlal Ram Narayan Dave Pancholi Art
1953 Bou Thakuranir Haat Uttam Kumar, Pahari Sanyal, Sambhu Mitra, Bhanu Bandyopadhyay, Manju Dey, Naresh Mitra, Padma Devi, Nitish Mukherjee, Rama Devi Naresh Mitra Emar Productions
1953 Sharey Chuattor Tulsi Chakrabarti, Molina Devi, Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Bhanu Bannerjee, Jahor Roy, Nabadwip Haldar, Gurudas Bannerjee, Padma Devi, Dhananjay Bhattacharya, Shyamal Mitra, Manabendra Mukhopadhyay, Dwijen Mukherjee Nirmal Dey
1954 Maa O Chhele Chhabi Biswas, Anubha Gupta, Molina Devi, Padma Devi, Sadhona Bose Gunamoy Bandyopadhyay Sree Bharatlakshmi Pictures
1955 Amar Saigal Pahari Sanyal, Tandon, G Mungeri, Akhtar Jahan, Padma Devi Nitin Bose Sircar Productions
1956 Saheb Bibi Golam Sumitra Devi, Uttam Kumar, Chhabi Biswas, Nitish Mukherjee, Chhaya Devi, Padma Devi, Pahari Sanyal, Anubha Gupta, Jahar Ganguly, Bhanu Banerjee, Kanu Banerjee, Haridhan Banerjee, Nabadwip Haldar Kartik Chatterjee Sarkar Productions
1957 Nilachaley Mahaprabhu Asim Kumar, Dipti Roy, Ahindra Choudhury, Dhiraj Bhattacharya, Nitish Mukhapadhyay, Kanu Banerjee, Gurudas Bandyopadhyay, Bhanu Bandopadhyay, Padma Devi, Chhabi Biswas, Sumitra Devi, Molina Devi Kartik Chattopadhyay Udoy Chitra Pratisthan
1958 Bari Theke Paliye (Runaway) Kali Banerjee, Satindra Bhattacharya, Nripati Chatterjee, Shriman Deepak, Shailen Ghosh, Krishna Jaya, Param Bharak Lahiri, Gyanesh Mukherjee, Keshto Mukherjee, Padma Devi, Niti Pandit, Jahar Roy Ritwik Ghatak Chitrakalpa
1958 Jalsaghar (The Music Room) Chhabi Biswas, Padma Devi, Pinaki Sen Gupta, Gangapada Bose, Tulsi Lahari, Kali Sarkar, Ustad Waheed Khan, Roshan Kumari, Begum Akhtar Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray
1960 Kshudhita Pashan Soumitra Chatterjee, Chhabi Biswas, Arundhati Devi, Dilip Roy, Padma Devi, Robin Banerjee Tapan Sinha Hemen Ganguly
1963 Uttar Falguni Suchitra Sen, Bikash Roy, Chhaya Devi, Dilip Mukherjee, Padma Devi, Kalipada Chakraborty, Pahari Sanyal, Jahar Ganguli, Sita Mukherjee, Ajit Bandyopadhyay Asit Sen Uttam Kumar
1964 Sanjh Aur Savera Meena Kumari, Guru Dutt, Mehmood, Shubha Khote, Manmohan Krishna, Padma Devi, Jagdev, Harindranath Chattopadhyay, Brahm Bhardwaj, Kanu Roy, Rashid Khan Hrishikesh Mukherjee Sevantilal Shah
1964 Kashmir Ki Kali Shammi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Padma Devi, Pran, Nazir Hussain, Dhumal, Anoop Kumar, Madan Puri, Bir Sakuja, Sunder, Mridula Rani, Tun Tun, Padma Chavan, Sujata Shakti Samanta Shakti Samanta
1966 Netaji Subhashchandra Bose Abhi Bhattacharya, Jayamala, Bipin Gupta, Padma Devi, Niranjan Sharma, Leela Misra, R. Dayal, Sudarshan Sethi Hemen Gupta Adarshlok
1976 Jana Aranya Pradip Mukherjee, Kalyan Sen, Satya Bandyopadhyay, Padma Devi, Deepankar De, Arati Bhattacharya, Gautam Chakraborty, Lily Chakravarty, Bimal Chatterjee, Bimal Deb, Santosh Dutta, Utpal Dutt, Rabi Ghosh, Aparna Sen Satyajit Ray Indus Films (Subir Guha)
1979 Arun Barun O Kiranmala Tarun Kumar, Dilip Ray, Master Partho, Master Supratim, Tapati Manna, Padma Devi, Nimu Bhowmik, Satya Bandyopadhyay, Alpana Goswami, Chhaya Devi Barun Kabasi Dolphin Films

Last Days

Padma Devi died on 1 February 1983.

References

  1. Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (26 June 1999). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. ISBN 9780851706696.
  2. "Padma Devi – Cineplot.com". Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  3. says, Vidur Sury. "Padma Devi – Filmography – Cineplot.com". Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  4. "PADMA DEBI: Film / Movie Information". www.citwf.com. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
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